How to say "dominate" in Japanese

• 尻に敷くしりにしく
  expression, godan verbCovers the personal-relationship sense of 'dominate': a wife who dominates her husband, typically with an image of figuratively walking all over him. It is a vivid idiom, not a general word for domination, and outside this marital context it is seldom the word you want.
  奥おくさんの尻しりにしかれている。↗

  His wife leads him by the nose.
• 優位に立つゆういにたつ
  expression, godan verbCovers the sense of holding the upper hand: to dominate, prevail over, or be superior to a rival in competition, business, or sport. It emphasizes being in an advantageous position rather than controlling others outright.
• 覇を唱えるはをとなえる
  expression, ichidan verbCovers the 'dominate' sense understood as reigning supreme or assuming hegemony: a power, nation, or figure dominating a whole arena or era. Grand and historical in flavor, it suits talk of leadership and supremacy rather than everyday one-on-one dominance.
• 扼すやくす
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the sense of commanding or dominating from a controlling position, especially of a strategic point or terrain that gives command over the surroundings. A compact literary verb; for most learners 扼する below is the easier form to handle.
• 扼するやくする
  suru verb (irregular), transitive verbThe same verb as 扼す in its standard conjugation: to command or dominate a strategic location or key point. Limited to this military or geographical 'command' sense, it is marginal for the general meaning of 'dominate'.

Use 「優位に立つ」 for general superiority over rivals, 「覇を唱える」 for hegemony or leadership in a field, 「扼す」／「扼する」 for commanding a strategic position, and 「尻に敷く」 only for a wife dominating her husband.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 尻に敷くしりにしくto dominate (usu. one's husband)
• 優位に立つゆういにたつto dominate
• 覇を唱えるはをとなえるto reign supreme
• 扼すやくすto command
• 扼するやくするto command
• 握るにぎるto seize (power)
• 圧するあっするto oppress
• 圧すあっすto oppress